Going green goes bad with online tests

BY CHLOE GALLOWAYTeen correspondent

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 4:04 p.m.

Is your job online? Have you ever met your boss? Do you take tests on paper anymore? From meetings to projects, everything is done electronically. I know things are now being done to be "green," but there comes a time when being green can affect success.

I recently took my English 2 EOC. This was honestly one of the most challenging tests I've taken in high school so far. The state has moved these tests online to better save paper and money. What they didn't realize was that an extended period of time staring at a computer screen is damaging to eyesight and can cause mental fatigue.

Don't stare at the computer screen, take frequent breaks, try and eliminate the time you read something. All of these statements are helpful for looking at something on the computer, except when it's a timed test. Every moment counts when you are in a race against time to complete a test that counts 25 percent of your final grade.

With this said, I believe that tests should be done on paper that you can physically hold, underline and take. For me, being able to just use my pencil to underline a sentence is much easier than having to change to highlighter, underline, take highlighter off and then continue to read. Along with this, you are able to gauge your time more wisely. If you are aware of how many questions there are per passage, you are able to make better decisions on the speed you should read each passage.

Not only can managing your time be easier, you will be able to think more clearly. It has been proven that along with damage to your eyes, staring at a computer screen for extended periods can cause headaches and mental fatigue. The distractions of headaches, mental fatigue and dry eyes all can take your focus off your test and your score down.

I believe that the state should take the test back onto paper. I believe that more students would succeed and strive. All other exams, MSLs, and tests are on paper. Paper is what we are used to taking and how we are used to testing. Putting students into an unknown testing environment will not bring success. Failure isn't guaranteed, but a smaller success rate is.

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